Eurovision 2024: The programme of the first day of rehearsals (Saturday 27 April)!

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The big moment is now upon millions of Eurofans around the globe, as the 68th Eurovision Song Contest officially begins in a few hours from now, with the Malmö Arena opening its gates to the 37 participating countries.

With no major changes expected this year, the rehearsals for Eurovision 2024 are expected to take place in the upcoming week. Rehearsals are divided into two phases, the first which will run for four days from today until Tuesday 30/04 and will include the initial first rehearsals of all countries taking part in the two semi-finals of the contest and the second which will run from Wednesday 01/05 until Saturday 04/05 and will include the second rehearsals of the countries in the two semi-finals as well as both rehearsals of the countries competing directly in the Final, namely the Big 5 and the host Sweden.

Last year’s changes in the way the rehearsals are covered are maintained this year, as the Press Centre opens on the Monday after the first and second rehearsals.

As a consequence, the information we will have for the first week of the contest will come exclusively from the material provided by the EBU to accredited journalists, as well as through the Live Blogs on Reddit and the short videos on TikTok.

Programme for Saturday 27 April

Seven countries are set to take to the stage at Malmö Arena for their first rehearsal, with Cyprus and Silia Kapsis “kicking off” on Saturday morning. The detailed schedule for the first day of rehearsals of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest is as follows (Mentioned in CET/Swedish Time):

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Eurovision 2024: Participants Depart for Malmö!

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With the Eurovision 2024 rehearsals set to commence tomorrow, Saturday 27/4, the 37 participants of this year’s competition have begun their journey to Malmö.

Most are traveling by air, while some are hitting the road, as artists destined for the 68th Eurovision Song Contest converge on Malmö, the city that will become the musical epicenter of Europe for the next two weeks.

Australia

Electric Fields are the first contestants to set foot in Sweden, as they inform us through their social media channels.

Lithuania

Silvester Belt departed from Vilnius for Malmö without stress, as revealed.

 

Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.

 

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη LRT (@lrt.lt)

Ukraine

With a modest ceremony at Kiev’s central railway station and the “Eurovision Express,” the train carrying them, Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil embarked on their journey to Malmö. Donning white attire with keys hanging from them symbolizing the future of Ukraine’s children that need to be unlocked, the Ukrainian representatives left with the support of millions of their compatriots, filled with hope for Sweden.

Cyprus

Earlier today, Silia Kapsis departed with the rest of the Cypriot delegation. With many smiles and optimism for what they have prepared, Silia Kapsis and the rest of the team set off for Malmö. Tomorrow morning at 10:30 CET, she will have the honor of being the first to rehearse for Eurovision 2024.

 

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Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Eurovisionfun (@eurovisionfn)

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun on our website and social media channels because Eurovision 2024 is now in its final stretch!

Bets: The latest odds before the rehearsals!

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We are two days away from the start of the rehearsals in Malmö and that’s why one of Eurovisionfun‘s most loved and talked about columns is back, with the Eurovision 2024 betting analysis back again.

As you prepare for the pivotal days ahead with the climax of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest celebrations, the bookers are already getting down to business, with the Eurovision 2024 winner section already on offer across all bookmakers. So, we’re taking the opportunity to bring you the so far for the next contest.

The five that became four

A battle for four seems to be shaping up in this year’s contest, with Switzerland, Croatia, the Netherlands and Italy having a distinct lead over their pursuers and Ukraine ‘losing ground’ recently after the parties.

More specifically, at the top, now having a clear lead over its competitors, is Switzerland. With two 24 hours to go until the start of rehearsals in the Swedish south, Nemo‘s “The Code” starts from pole-position to win Switzerland‘s coveted third victory in its almost 70-year presence in the Eurovision Song Contest. Switzerland‘s victory is now being bet at odds of between 2.63 and 3.1, becoming the first to break the triple barrier this year.

In second place remains Croatia, who have been firmly established in the top two of the betting tables for the past two months, with their odds remaining largely stable after this year’s pre-parties. Baby Lasagna and “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” will go all the way for a maiden Croatian victory, with bookers offering odds of between 3.25 and 4.6.

The absolute hit on Western and Central European radios, the Netherlands, continues its rally up the betting tables. Joost Klein‘s “Europapa” has made an impression and is sweeping the charts and streams across much of the Old Continent, now bringing the Netherlands into fourth place. We told you long ago through this column about the dynamics of this entry, which was one of the dark horses of this year’s contest. Now in third place and offered at odds of between 4.25 and 5.5, it is anything but a dark horse, with betting companies recognising its potential and moving it up two places.

Fourth, with a slightly downward trend, but within a fairly close distance of the three leading countries, is Italy. Angelina Mango with “La Noia” may have lost one place compared to our last analysis, nevertheless the chances of a second Italian victory in this decade are highly respected. Between 5.75 and 7.5 is offered for Italian victory for those who believe in Angelina Mango‘s potential.

The top five is now completed by Ukraine, who have lost the momentum they had at the beginning of this year’s Eurovision season when they were considered the early favourites to win in Malmö. With the gap between the four leading countries having widened, bookers are offering Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil’s victory at the highest odds we have seen offered during this year’s Eurovision season. Ukraine‘s fourth win in the Eurovision Song Contest is currently being bet at odds of between 8.5 and 17.

Top 10

With the countries in the Top 5 having stood out in comparison to those below them in the betting tables, let’s take a look at the rest of the top ten. In sixth place, France has quietly risen to sixth, and has consistently remained in or on the fringes of the top ten for most of this Eurovision season. Up to 21 times the stakes are returned by “Mon Amour” and Slimane, with France gaining one place in the last few days.

Among the gainers in recent weeks is Israel, which has moved up to seventh place. Eden Golan and “Hurricane” have gained four places in the last period, steadily gaining momentum as evidenced by the reactions she is garnering on social media on the official Eurovision account. Israel’s victory is offered at odds between 21 and 36.

Greece is still in eighth place. The “tailwind” after the release of Marina Satti‘s “ZARI” brought our country inside the Top 10, with Greece now stabilizing within it and having a safety margin over its pursuers.

Marina Satti‘s win is currently being played at odds between 21 and 41, slightly higher compared to our last analysis, with bookers, however, giving a vote of confidence to the Greek entry.

The big winner in recent weeks has clearly been Ireland, who have now moved up to ninth place, being five places higher compared to our last analysis. Up to 51 times the stake is returned on Ireland’s win with Bambie Thug‘s “Doomsday Blue“.

Rounding out the top ten is Belgium, who have been the disappointment so far this Eurovision season. Mustii‘s pre-party performances with his mildly unacceptable rendition of “Before the Party’s Over” has brought Belgium into tenth place, showing a drop of four places compared to our last analysis. Belgium’s victory is currently being bet on odds between 26 and 67.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGDvM14Kwg

Will Switzerland achieve its third victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with Nemo’s “The Code”? Tell us in the comments!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

OGAE Poll 2024: The results from Lithuania, Italy and Cyprus!

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Every year since 2007, OGAE International conducts the OGAE Poll, which includes the votes of its members from 42 different countries. After twenty-six countries have voted, it is now turn for Lithuania, Italy and Cyprus to cast their votes.

In detail, the 53 members of OGAE Lithuania voted as following:
  • 12 points to Ukraine
  • 10 points to Belgium
  • 8 points to Switzerland
  • 7 points to Italy
  • 6 points to the Netherlands
  • 5 points to Norway
  • 4 points to Greece
  • 3 points to the United Kingdom
  • 2 points to Sweden
  • 1 point to Estonia

Moreover, the 146 members of OGAE Italy voted as following:

  • 12 points to Croatia
  • 10 points to France
  • 8 points to Switzerland
  • 7 points to Belgium
  • 6 points to Israel
  • 5 points to Ukraine
  • 4 points to Spain
  • 3 points to Austria
  • 2 points to Lithuania
  • 1 point to Norway

Last, the 67 members of OGAE Cyprus voted as following:

  • 12 points to Italy
  • 10 points to France
  • 8 points to Belgium
  • 7 points to Greece
  • 6 points to Austria
  • 5 points to the United Kingdom
  • 4 points to Israel
  • 3 points to Croatia
  • 2 points to Switzerland
  • 1 point to Spain

The results following the votes of twenty-nine member clubs are the following:

Italy is now in the lead with just five points margin from Croatia and Switzerland concludes the top-three of the fan’s poll.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: OGAE International

EBU for what is revealed in the Cypriot Ambassador’s document: “We condemn any attempt to manipulate the vote”!

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The EBU gave an answer to the issue that arose in the previous days with the official document of the Cypriot Ambassador about his meeting with the President of ERT, during which, according to the former, Mr. Zoulas announced the low score of Cyprus in the upcoming song contest Eurovision. According to what was published by the newspaper Ta Nea, which is published today, Monday 22/4, the EBU reacted to all these developments, publicly condemning any attempt to manipulate the scores of either the critical committees or the televoting.

The voting voting rules for the Eurovision Song Contest, which are known to all participating broadcasters, describe that the juries must vote independently and in a completely fair and objective manner. We condemn any attempt to manipulate either the public or the jury vote in the Eurovision Song Contest. All voting procedures are checked by an independent observer to ensure that we provide a fair and valid result throughout the competition.

EBU

The issue is again hosted on the front page of the newspaper:

The EBU document was also made public through Alpha’s show, Super Katerina.

In today’s article in Ta Nea, it is stated that there is particular concern in the EBU for the question marks that have been created, as well as that the answer given by the President of ERT did not particularly reassure the European decision-makers. We will, of course, monitor the matter and inform you of any new developments.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Listen to Cyprus and Croatia’s performances, in “A Little Bit More”!

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Just like last year, some time before the first rehearsals of the countries, the show called “A Little Bit More” aired on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.

Read more

Eurovision 2024: More “flexibility” for the producers to determine the Grand Final running order!

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The 68th Eurovision Song Contest introduces a significant change in how the Grand Final running order is determined. Artists now have more options, with a new category introduced to give producers greater flexibility in shaping the lineup.

In March, it was announced that Malmö would see some major changes to enhance the Eurovision Song Contest‘s excitement. Following the revelation that the “Big 5” would perform their songs in full during the Semi-Finals and that fans could start voting as soon as the first artist hits the stage in the Grand Final, another significant change has emerged!

In recent years, qualifying countries from the Semi-Finals and the Big 5 have randomly selected which half of the Grand Final they will perform in. Subsequently, the show’s producers decided where within the First Half (songs 1 to 13) or Second Half (songs 14 to 26) of the Grand Final those acts would perform.

This year, a new category called “Producer’s Choice” will be introduced.

Host broadcaster SVT revealed that 25 of the 26 artists in the Grand Final (Sweden already has position 1) will have the option to choose First Half, Second Half, or Producer’s Choice through a random draw.

If an artist selects Producer’s Choice, the show producers will have the discretion to place that song anywhere in either the First or Second Half of the running order.

This change means there will be 6 slots available to pick in the First Half of the running order, 6 slots in the Second Half, and 13 Producer’s Choice slots.

The purpose of this change is to provide producers with more opportunities to ensure all songs in the Grand Final stand out and to create the most dynamic running order possible.

Christer Björkman, this year’s Contest Producer, elaborated on the rationale behind the change:

“It’s all about creating the best TV show possible and giving all artists a chance to shine. Adding the flexibility of Producer’s Choice allows me to create an even better flow of different tempos and an even more thrilling Grand Final.”

The Big 5 will select either First Half, Second Half, or Producer’s Choice after their second Rehearsal on Saturday, May 4, live during a Reddit AMA. Then, each of the 10 qualifiers from the First Semi-Final on Tuesday, May 7, will draw one of those three options live on the Official Eurovision Song Contest TikTok channel immediately after the show.

The 10 qualifying artists from the Second Semi-Final will draw from the remaining options live on TikTok after the show ends on Thursday, May 9.

Once all 25 options are chosen, producers will compile the running order for the Grand Final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in the early hours of Friday, May 10. It will then be revealed on the Contest’s website and social media channels.

The last time such a change to the running order was made was also in Malmö, in 2013.

Before 2013, the running order of the Grand Final was determined via a random draw. However, in 2013, host broadcaster SVT initiated a change to create a more entertaining evening of television for viewers. This format has remained in place every year since, with the introduction of the Producer’s Choice element in 2024 being the first major change in over a decade.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments!

Source: Eurovision.tv

Cyprus: Embassy’s Response to the Article by “Nea” Newspaper

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Giannis Poulopoulos of the show “Super Katerina” reached out with a relevant question to the spokesperson of the Cypriot embassy in Athens, inquiring about the veracity of the discussion between the Cypriot Ambassador and the President of ERT, as reported by “Nea” newspaper.

The Cypriot Embassy neither denied nor confirmed the article, offering a brief yet meaningful comment:

“No comment.”

As discussed on the show, the fact that the Embassy neither refutes nor confirms anything speaks volumes. Additionally, attention was drawn to the fact that ERT‘s response came through a personal statement from its President rather than from the company itself, which also carries significant symbolism.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments!

Silia Kapsis: “I Don’t Know What Happened Between ERT and CyBC (RIK), I’m Here for the Music”

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Upon her return from Amsterdam, television channels awaited Silia Kapsis at the airport to gauge her reaction to the recent revelations surrounding Konstantinos Zoulas’s statements to the Cypriot ambassador, as reported by the media.

Silia Kapsis admitted she was not well-versed on the matter, revealing that both her mother and the people at RIK had shielded her from reading articles regarding the issue.

“I don’t know what happened between ERT and RIK. I’m here to sing and dance. I’m here for the music,” she stated.

Pressed by journalists, Silia Kapsis acknowledged that if such allegations were true, it saddened her as she wished for Greece and Cyprus to remain united.

“I’m half Greek and half Cypriot. I’m from Thessaloniki and Larnaca. All of this saddens me. Greece and Cyprus should be united. I will sing for both countries,” she declared.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments!

Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK): “It is a violation of the regulations what the media reports” | “It is known to the EBU!”

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In a recent segment on RIK1, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK) addressed the allegations raised by the media and clarified its stance on the matter. Andreas Anastasiou, the head of press for the Cypriot delegation, asserted that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is now aware of the situation and emphasized that any such claims constitute a violation of the competition’s regulations.

Anastasiou elaborated on the voting process of the jury committee and addressed concerns regarding statements attributed to the President of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT). He stressed that if the reports are accurate, they represent a breach of the rules governing the Eurovision Song Contest.

Highlighting the longstanding relationship between ERT and CyBC, Anastasiou underscored that these allegations may necessitate changes in their dynamic. He reiterated that the EBU has been informed of the situation.

The relations between ERT and CyBC are long-standing and not personalised. If the reports are true, you can understand that some things will change. They are known to the EBU.

Concluding his remarks, Anastasiou extended well wishes to Marina Satti and Greece, making it clear that he was speaking on behalf of CyBC (RIK).

With the matter now brought to the attention of the EBU and considering Anastasiou’s statements, it appears that RIK awaits further developments from the organizing authority. This incident underscores the need for resolution between ERT and RIK, a matter that the EBU will likely need to address once again.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates on this developing situation!